CNS Type 055 (Renhai-class)

History

In response to threats of regional and Western aggression and to assert its maritime sovereignty in the South China Sea, China will continue to build its military capabilities across all services. This has resulted in a variety of weapons manufacturers spawning infantry weapons, armored vehicles and aircraft, and expanding into naval service, with aircraft carriers, attack submarines and advanced surface ships continuing to bring Asian power to the fore.

In addition, China is developing these solutions through local means, and over time it is moving away from its long-standing dependence on sources such as Russia. The Type 055 guided missile destroyer is an example of the growing strength of the Chinese navy, which is now promoting its first active-duty aircraft carrier on the Liaoning (detailed elsewhere on this page).

The Type 055 is said to be in the same class of warships as the US "Arleigh Burke" series and is equipped with the latest available sensor equipment, digital processing systems and radar/sonar. It will be equipped with flexible weapons to deal with most incoming threats, whether in the air, at sea or below.

What is currently known about the Type 055 design is that it will be in the 10,000 to 14,000-ton displacement range and will be approximately 575 feet in length. Like newer warships in the West, the Type 055 incorporates stealth into its design, with a structure (based on an artist's impression) featuring panel sides and sloping surfaces. The main mast will be fully enclosed and placed directly in front of it as part of the bridge superstructure with the Vertical Launch System (VLS). A single turret deck gun would disrupt the silhouette of the front building. The smoke funnel is in-line arrangement and low profile.

A full-service hangar deck will be attached to the rear of the ship, and a flight deck will operate up to two Navy helicopters for over-the-horizon work and submarine hunting. Another VLS unit is placed in the gap created between the rear and front superstructures.

In addition to cruise missiles and other surface-to-surface missile weapons, the warship will be equipped with a digitally assisted close-in weapons system (CIWS) and a surface-to-air missile system (SAM). Anti-submarine warfare (ASW) capabilities are achieved through towed sonar systems and depth sonar units, while countermeasures (electronic and physical) also take into account the ship's self-survival design.

The first ship of the proposed class will be built by Jiangnan Shipbuilding Company and is expected to start production sometime in 2018. Dalian Shipbuilding Industry Corporation is said to have started construction of the second ship.

December 2018 - The first Type 055 cruiser is believed to have begun its sea trials in 2018, with a possible commissioning date set for sometime in 2019.

Specification

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